Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balcabdebu’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Balcabdebu’, characterized by its dark violet-colored flowers having deep violet-colored venation, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Calibrachoa×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balcabdebu’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant botanically known as Calibrachoa×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balcabdebu’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Elburn, Ill. during August 2006. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Calibrachoa cultivars with attractive flower coloration, medium green-colored foliage, and a moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit.

The new Calibrachoa cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Calibrachoa×hybrida breeding selection designated 2191-3-1, not patented, characterized by its dark violet-colored flowers with dark violet-colored venation, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, trailing growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Calibrachoa×hybrida breeding selection designated 2172-1-1-1B, not patented, characterized by its dark violet-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, trailing growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during June 2007 in a controlled environment at Elburn, Ill.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since June 2007 at Elburn, Ill. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balcabdebu’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Dark violet-colored flowers having deep violet-colored         venation;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female and male parents primarily in growth habit. Plants of the new cultivar are more mounded than either parent. In addition, plants of the new cultivar have smaller flowers and increased branching compared with the male parent.

Of the many commercially available Calibrachoa cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is CABARET Purple ‘Balcabpurp’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,519. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balcabpurp’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are less spreading, as measured by         plant width, than plants of ‘Balcabpurp’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a narrower throat opening         than plants of ‘Balcabpurp’; and     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have a darker-colored throat         opening than plants of ‘Balcabpurp’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balcabdebu’. The plants were grown in 4-inch pots for 6 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch at transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balcabdebu’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘Balcabdebu’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in May 2010 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 4-inch pots for 6 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch at transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa×hybrida cultivar Balcabdebu. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Calibrachoa×hybrida breeding             selection designated 2191-3-1, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Calibrachoa×hybrida breeding             selection designated 2172-1-1-1B, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 8 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 24 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 6 to 7 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,             mounded-trailing.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 7.0 cm. Width: Approximately 21.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances basal             branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:             Approximately 7.         -   Branch.—Strength: Moderate. Length: Approximately 11.0 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 9.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent.             Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of young and             mature stems: 144A with an overlay of 187A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 13. Fragrance: Slight. Form: Simple.             Arrangement on flowering stem: Alternate.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: At acute angle to stem with tip turning             downward. Shape: Elliptic. Margin: Entire. Apex: Broadly             acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of             mature leaf: Approximately 2.8 cm. Width of mature leaf:             Approximately 1.1 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Moderately glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless,             transparent. Color of upper surface of young foliage: 137B             with venation of 144D to indistinguishable. Color of lower             surface of young foliage: 138A with venation of 138D to             indistinguishable. Color of upper surface of mature foliage:             137A with venation of 144D to indistinguishable. Color of             lower surface of mature foliage: 138B with venation of 138D             to indistinguishable.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Moderately glandular             pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color: 144D. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balcabchim’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             5 to 7 days. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Single, salverform. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 17. Fragrance: None detected.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 10.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length:             Approximately 2.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm.             Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color: Petal portion darker than 83A             and tube portion 151C, venation of N77A.         -   Corolla.—Diameter: Approximately 4.0 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube. Shape: Obovate.             Margin: Entire. Apex: Obtuse. Length from tube:             Approximately 1.8 cm. Length of free portion: Approximately             7.0 mm. Width: Approximately 2.0 cm. Texture of upper             surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Glandular             pubescent, dense along venation. Gland color: Colorless,             transparent. Color of upper surface when first open: Darker             than N87A with venation of 86A and midveins of N186A. Color             of lower surface when first open: 83C with venation of 83A             and midveins of N77A. Color of upper surface when fully             open: Darker than N87A, fading with age to N87A; venation of             86A and midveins of N186A. Color of lower surface when fully             open: 83C, fading with age to 83D; venation of 83A and             midveins of N77A.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 1.7 cm. Diameter at             distal end: Approximately 6.0 mm. Diameter at proximal end:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous.             Texture of outer surface: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland             color: Colorless, transparent. Color of inner surface: N79A             at tube opening transitioning to 13C with venation of N79A.             Color of outer surface: 151D with venation of N77A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused along lower third.             Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Length: Approximately             1.4 cm. Width: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture of upper             surface: Densely glandular pubescent. Texture of lower             surface: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent . Color of upper surface: 137A. Color             of lower surface: 138B with base of 144C.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Acute angle to stem.             Length: Approximately 1.6 cm. Diameter: Approximately             1.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color: 144B with an overlay of 187A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5,             basifixed. Stamen length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Filament             length of fixed portion: Approximately 4.0 mm. Filament             color: 154B to 154C with a faint overlay of N77A on unfixed             portion. Anther shape: Bilobed, ovoid. Anther length:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther color: 8A. Pollen amount:             Abundant. Pollen color: 8B. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1             per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Stigma             shape: Funnel. Stigma length: Less than 1.0 mm. Stigma             color: 144A: Style length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Style             color: N144D. Ovary diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Ovary             color: N144C with speckles of 187A near the style. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Calibrachoa has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balcabdebu’, substantially as herein shown and described. 